It’s
just one of those romantic little stories about love. You know, where girl gets
boy, girl loses boy, girl shoots boy dead, and all that jazz.

Sound
familiar?It should, unless of
course you’ve been living on some remote island for the past several years.
With the highly successful Broadway revival, and the Oscar winning film of 2002
still wowing its viewing audience, it seems most appropriate that The Academy
Players of East Greenwich concludes its 47th season with Kander and
Ebb’s smash musical hit Chicago.

Presented
at the refurbished Greenwich Odeum Theater on Main Street of this quaint seaside
village, the age-old theater troupe has outdone itself with a near perfect
production, quite keenly directed by Michael P. Farrelly.

When
the curtain opens you are instantly transported into the unholy ambiance of a
1920’s gin joint, where scantily clothed ladies drape themselves around men of
unsavory character, and dance in shadows to the corruptible sounds of lusty
jazz.

Anthony Prichard has created a very effective set design that
encompasses all of these sordid elements, and which allows the exceptional
orchestra, led most efficiently by Scott Morency, a spot of its own atop the
stage. It easily transforms from dance hall, to boudoir, to prison block, to
courtroom with simplistic efficiency and a clever lighting design by Dennis
Pouliot Jr.

Adding
more oomph to this less than sanctified atmosphere is the sensual costume design
by Robert deMattio. Every article of clothing accentuates the sumptuous curves
of the bohemian dancers, but just barely, and strikes a stark contrast next to
the prim, but not so proper, populace of the wicked, windy city.

Choreographer
Jaci Marfuggi joins the other splendid dancers in sensational steps, turns,
splits and corporeal posturing, as they dance out the story of wanton women gone
awry.

Stage managing such a large and complicated show, with sound,
lighting and cast cues in daunting abundance, is never an easy task. Tonia Klemp
certainly deserves a curtain call of her own for her proficient handling of this
Herculean task.

The
plot of Chicago is based in reality. The creators adapted their story
around the popularity of two cold blooded, calculating murderesses, and the
manipulative press that promoted their questionable innocence.

Velma Kelly is an entertainer who has killed her husband and
sister, who is also her performance partner, after she catches them “in the
act.”Joanna Scoggins plays this
vixen with sultry sass and vigor. She is a very physical dancer and adeptly
applies this talent to her numbers with trained finesse. I only wish that the
microphones used were better at picking up her lower register to enable the
audience to fully appreciate her vocal abilities.

Roxie
Hart cheats regularly on her husband, and shoots one of her illicit lovers when
he attempts to walk out on her after a passionate encounter. Taryn Mallard-Reid
is quite exceptional as this conniving seductress who schemes and shams her way
to acquittal. Her extraordinarily ample talents as singer, dancer and actress
are simply astonishing, and prove that she is very well cast as this deadly
diva.

The
chorus line of devious cellblock habitants is dangerously beguiling. Every
member possesses viably skilled talents that entertain and titillate. Of special
note is Sarah Elizabeth Bilofsky as the Hungarian axe murderess, who may be the
only true innocent of the lot. If only the justice system could understand her
language, her life might have been saved. Bilofsky masters her foreign dialogue
with skillful expertise and adroitly relates her antagonism through song and
dance.

Betty Nolan, a regular on this East Greenwich stage, has such a
melodious voice, which she uses to full extent as she fashions the
“motherly” Matron of the death row inmates. And Wayne Alan Hawkins as the
slick defense attorney Billy Flynn, adequately slithers his way across stage and
deep into the pockets of his desperate clientele. The characters are in it
solely for their financial benefit and the two actors serve them due justice.

Neil G. Santoro is most touching as Roxie’s naïve husband. His
understatement of this nearly transparent character is glowing and elicits a
sympathetic, and appreciative response from his audience.

One
cannot overlook R. Bento’s amusing ability to portray Mary Sunshine, the
journalist who creates the news as well as reports it. Mary has much to hide
herself, and Bento’s performance in this role is delightfully ironic.

Despite a few technical difficulties, and some moments of insecure
dialogue, all in all, The Academy Players offer a highly stylized and brightly
polished production of this very provocative play.

Chicago
runs through May 18th, and should continue to have packed audiences.
If you chose to attend, then I highly recommend that you call the box office at
(401) 885-6910 as soon as possible to secure your reservations.